America’s Most Wanted
A gentleman to some and a menace to others, John Dillinger put America in a frenzy with a spree that led to the formation of the FBI itself—until his luck ran out.
1. His Father Tried To Keep Him Out Of Trouble
Before becoming public enemy number one, John Dillinger grew up in Indiana, born in 1903 to John Dillinger Sr and Mary Ellen Lancaster. John Dillinger Sr was a no-nonsense kind of man who did everything he could to keep his son on a straight and narrow path.
This led to a strained relationship.
Indiana State Penitentiary, Wikimedia Commons
2. He Had Issues With His Parents
Sadly, Dillinger’s mother passed shortly before he turned four, leaving him with his father. As he described, his father had no problems with more severe forms of discipline, taking it into his hands to ensure Dillinger didn’t get into trouble.
Likely in response, the young Dillinger grew more and more rebellious.
3. He Was A Troublemaker
During his adolescence, Dillinger gained a reputation as an ill-mannered rabble-rouser, quickly dropping out of school. He often found himself in hot water, having been caught fighting or stealing. This inevitably led to his first brush with the law.
4. He Committed His Biggest Offence Yet
Dillinger couldn’t help himself but keep pushing the limits, and he was eventually caught by authorities. While he hadn’t gone after anything too big yet, the courts charged him with auto theft. As a consequence, they ordered Dillinger to serve his country.
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5. He Joined The Service
Due to his legal troubles, Dillinger joined the US Navy as a Petty officer third class Machinery Repairman. This didn’t take, and he was soon dishonorably discharged for desertion.
After this, Dillinger only descended further into the other side of the law.
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6. He Turned To Lawlessness
Dillinger tried to find a job, but his seedy disposition made it impossible. Instead, with help from an ex-con friend, he planned more unseemly ways to get money. Finally, he got a taste of what his life was to be.
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7. They Enacted Their First Score
In 1924, Dillinger and his friend enacted their plan to hold up a grocery store, walking out with $50 in hand. While Dillinger did injure one person, there were no casualties...this time.
However, things didn’t go exactly according to plan.
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8. They Were Caught
Dillinger and his accomplice may have succeeded in their theft, but not for long. After recognizing them, a local minister reported the two to law enforcement, who took the thieves in the following day.
As it was Dillinger’s most severe offense yet, the courts provided their ruling.
Universal, Public Enemies (2009)
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9. He Was Charged
Listening to his father’s advice, Dillinger pleaded guilty and confessed to the hold-up. In response, the judge convicted him of assault and battery with intent to rob and gave him a hefty sentence.
Dillinger was floored.
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10. He Was Shocked
Dillinger’s father convinced him that if he pleaded guilty, the judge would give him a shorter sentence. However, Dillinger was instead given 10 to 20 years, which left him confused and infuriated with his father.
At this point, there was no escaping his situation.
11. He Endured His First Sentence
While incarcerated, Dillinger became only more resentful and intent on living lawlessly. His sentence lasted nine years before his release in 1933. Still, he hadn’t spent the whole time wallowing in misery.
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12. He Learned A Lot
Dillinger became quite popular while locked up, creating friendships with many like-minded individuals. Men like Harry Pierpoint and Homer Van Meter showed Dillinger the ropes of illicit activities and helped plan further heists.
With these added smarts, Dillinger prepared for a lifetime of trouble.
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13. He Quickly Backpedaled
After his release on parole in 1933, Dillinger’s options in rejoining society weren’t many. Granted, he had gotten a taste of lawlessness and wanted more, but he also faced impossible odds of finding work, with a record, during the Great Depression.
Of course, one thing he had learned while incarcerated was the strength of numbers.
National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons
14. They Grouped Up
Having made some skilled friends, Dillinger was able to create the first Dillinger Gang to move forward with his plans. Among its ranks were such lawbreakers as Charles Makley, John Hamilton, and Harry Pierpoint.
Of course, Dillinger wasn’t interested in auto theft and holding up grocers anymore. He wanted to go bigger.
Indiana State Penitentiary archives, Wikimedia Commons
15. He Moved To A Bigger Target
Merely two months after his release, Dillinger went to Ohio and targeted his first bank, taking $10,000 by force. Just like that, John Dillinger found his calling.
Under a month later, Dillinger held up another Ohio bank. But, unfortunately for him, this time it wasn’t the perfect heist.
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16. He Was Caught Once Again
Dillinger hadn’t yet mastered the “getting away” part of his lifestyle, and shortly after hitting his second bank, authorities caught him. Law enforcement from Dayton, Ohio had tracked him and took him into custody.
Once they had him, officers found a mysterious document.
17. They Found His Plans
After authorities took Dillinger into custody, they searched his person and found something interesting. It appeared to be a detailed escape plan, but they couldn’t make heads or tails of it, and Dillinger refused to explain.
They would learn what it meant soon enough—but by then it would be too late.
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18. They Disguised Themselves
According to the plan, Pierpont, Makley, and Russell Clark came to Dillinger’s rescue. They told the officials guarding Dillinger that they were Indiana State Officers, intending to extradite him. During this rescue, things went south—and his gang didn't hold back.
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19. They Were Quick To Violence
The Dillinger Gang’s ruse didn’t go off without a hitch, as the Sheriff quickly grew suspicious and asked for their identification. Rather than keep lying, Pierpoint shot the Sheriff and proceeded to free Dillinger.
Following the outbreak of bloodshed, they made a break for it.
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20. They Were Successful
After releasing Dillinger, the four outlaws escaped with little resistance. They then made for Indiana and joined the rest of their companions. Of course, Dillinger’s life wasn’t all about heists and high-intensity escapes.
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21. He Met The Love Of His Life
When Dillinger wasn’t pillaging banks and fleeing the law, he still enjoyed a personal life. While at a cabaret in 1933, he met Evelyn Frechette—also known as Billie—and the two hit it off.
This relationship certainly didn’t prove to be a distraction.
22. He Had A Full Career
From his first release to shortly before the day he perished, John Dillinger displayed how proficient he was at thievery. In a year, he and his gang hit no fewer than 12 banks, getting the attention of the authorities and media in the process.
These weren’t painless heists either.
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23. He Wasn’t Afraid Of Violence
The Dillinger Gang wasn’t opposed to getting rough with those who got in their way. This was what eventually got Dillinger a more severe charge after they claimed the life of an officer during an East Chicago bank heist in early 1934.
Once again, their luck ran out.
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24. The Law Caught Up To Them
In the middle of their spree, the Dillinger Gang weren’t careful enough and someone recognized them while in Tuscon, Arizona. In January 1934, law enforcement found them. As for Dillinger, he again found himself locked up yet again. But for how long?
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25. He Found Himself Incarcerated Again
After being extradited to Indiana, the courts charged Dillinger with the slaying of the law enforcement officer in East Chicago. As a result, he found himself locked up again, a fact that the authorities couldn’t help but rub in his face.
Chicago History Museum, Getty Images
26. They Were Overconfident
As soon as authorities incarcerated Dillinger, they started boasting and overplaying their hand. The Crown Point authorities posted extra guards as a precaution, but claimed to the media that their lockup was "escape-proof".
However, Dillinger remained unphased.
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27. He Picked The Right Time
Having escaped incarceration before, Dillinger knew what he was doing and kept a level head. Specifically, he chose to enact his plan during morning exercises and brandished a pistol, forcing the bewildered guards to let him go.
This time, it wasn’t just him walking out of there.
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28. He Wasn’t Alone
When Dillinger made his daring escape, he wasn’t only doing it for himself. As he forced the guards to let him go without firing a shot, 15 of his fellow inmates joined him. One detail may have made this even more embarrassing for the guards.
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29. They Thought It Was Fake
Dillinger’s escape shocked the guards, as they were clueless about how he had gotten his hands on a piece. Dillinger later claimed he had carved it out of wood and painted it with shoe polish, supporting one of his hostages’ accounts.
Not everyone believed this, though.
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30. They Were Sure
On the other hand, some never bought into the “wooden piece” idea. An investigator named Art O’Leary claimed to have supplied Dillinger with real iron, and Deputy Ernest Blunk insisted on its authenticity.
Regardless, wood or metal, lots of people started paying attention to Dillinger after this latest escape. And he didn't need the attention.
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31. His Charges Were Escalated
Dillinger had escaped, but he still needed transportation. Taking the Sheriff’s car, he drove into Illinois, leading to the FBI’s precursor—the Bureau of Investigation—getting involved, since taking a stolen vehicle across state lines is a federal offense.
Of course, Dillinger still had one good thing going for him.
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32. They Were Reunited
Once he was out, there was undoubtedly one face Dillinger wanted to see above all others. Only a couple of hours after tasting freedom, he went to the woman he loved. He and Billie were together again.
But she wasn’t the only one Dillinger met up with.
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33. They Made A New Gang
Wanting some fresh faces for this new era, Dillinger created a second gang. Some of the more prominent recruits were Dillinger’s old friend Homer Van Meter and Baby Face Nelson. Even though they were ready for more action, they decided to take it easy.
34. They Went Into Hiding
In the effort of laying low, Dillinger and Billie took up residence in an apartment building in St Paul, Minnesota. They fabricated and assumed the identities of Mr and Mrs Carl Hellman, so as not to draw unwanted attention.
Unfortunately for them, they didn’t do that good of a job.
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35. She Was Suspicious
Dillinger and Billie’s new landlord, Daisy Coffey, spent much of her time watching the couple’s movements. She grew suspicious of their secretive and anxious attitudes and filed a report with the FBI.
They didn’t take this report likely.
36. The BOI Got Involved
Believing the couple in the report to be Dillinger and Billie, the BOI sent two agents to stake out the apartments. Agents Rufus Coulter and Rusty Nalls watched for the two fugitives, backed by local detective Henry Cummings.
While they didn’t immediately see Dillinger or Billie, they saw another person of interest.
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37. They Saw His Accomplice
Although Dillinger and Billie were cautious enough to stay inside and keep their blinds drawn, another factor let the BOI know their hunch was correct. After Agent Coulter and Detective Cummings went inside, Agent Nalls saw Homer Van Meter park in front.
Inside the apartment, the authorities were closing in.
American International Pictures, Dillinger (1973)
38. They Paid Them A Visit
Dillinger and Billie received a knock on their door, and while he hid, she answered and opened the door just enough to see Agent Coulter and Detective Cummings on the other side. She told them to return later so she could put some clothes on, but they insisted on waiting in the hall.
However, as Agent Nalls had observed, John wasn’t the only Dillinger Gang member there.
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39. He Intervened
Running interference for the couple, Homer Van Meter entered the hallway and claimed to be a soap salesman. When the authorities asked for his credentials, he cryptically declined and walked down the stairs.
But Agent Coulter wasn’t about to just let him go.
American International Pictures, Dillinger (1973)
40. They Engaged Each Other
After Van Meter went downstairs, Agent Coulter left Detective Cummings at the door and followed. Once at the lobby, Coulter was met with a barrage of shots from Van Meter, forcing the Agent to flee the building.
Meanwhile, Dillinger didn’t just stand by and wait.
American International Pictures, Dillinger (1973)
41. He Joined The Fight
As soon as the skirmish in the lobby began, Dillinger knew there was no more hiding, but he wasn’t going down without a fight. Still at the apartment, Detective Cummings saw the door fly open and Dillinger step out to fire upon him, prompting Cummings to fire back with his revolver.
Dillinger didn’t come out unscathed.
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42. He Was Injured
In the resulting firefight, Detective Cummings emptied his revolver and fled, but not before getting at least one good shot. Dillinger received one wound to his left calf—but even so, he and Billie never surrendered. It was going to take more than that to bring John Dillinger down.
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43. They Got Away
Above all else, Dillinger’s sporadic and suppressive fire was meant to cover him and Billie as they made their escape. With Agent Coulter distracted downstairs and Detective Cummings running for cover, Dillinger and Billie hurried out the back of the building and drove away.
But they weren’t the only ones to escape.
American International Pictures, Dillinger (1973)
44. He Made His Escape
After Agent Coulter fled, Van Meter knew he couldn’t stick around. The way to his vehicle was being watched, but even if he could have reached it, Coulter had shot out the tires. Instead, Van Meter hitched a ride on a coal truck, holding up the driver and forcing them to help him escape.
After this incident, Dillinger felt like it was time to head home.
American International Pictures, Dillinger (1973)
45. They Went To His Family
The relationship between Dillinger and his father had always been strained, but after everything in St Paul, he felt it would be best to visit him. At the beginning of April, he returned to Indiana with Billie and yet again tried to keep a low profile.
But even while in hiding, he couldn’t keep from getting into trouble.
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46. They Got In An Accident
Along with his father, Dillinger also spent a lot of time with his half-brother Hubert while in Indiana. The idea was not to draw too much attention, but on one ill-conceived night out, the two crashed into another vehicle after Hubert fell asleep while driving.
This accident didn’t go unnoticed.
47. The Authorities Arrived
Seeing as Dillinger and his half-brother left the vehicle and fled the scene of the accident, it was wasn't long before the authorities arrived. When they got there, they found maps, rope, ammo, and even a bullwhip inside the crashed Dillinger car.
With the eyes of the law on them, the Dillinger family tried to look as innocent as possible.
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48. They Had A Picnic
Although it likely would have been smart to stay home and hide away for a bit, Dillinger wanted to make it seem like everything was normal. A day after the car accident, he accompanied his family on a picnic while staying relatively hidden.
Of course, he was smart enough to know who was watching.
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49. They Hid Him
Correctly suspecting that the BOI were driving around on the hunt for him, Dillinger decided that the family should leave in separate cars. Billie took a car and rode with Dillinger’s two nieces visible, while he hid on the floor in the backseat.
With their visit at an end, Dillinger said goodbye to his family.
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50. They Left For The Big City
Bidding farewell to his family, Dillinger and Billie quietly left Indiana in a new Ford V8 she had registered under an alias. Still in the mindset of laying low, they traveled to Chicago. However, their time together was coming to an end.
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51. He Had An Appointment
While in Chicago, Dillinger was meant to meet an important contact at a local tavern on April 9. Billie was hesitant and felt something about the situation didn’t feel right. Sadly for them, her suspicions were correct.
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52. It Was A Set-Up
Feeling that something was up with Dillinger’s meeting, Billie insisted that she enter the tavern first while Dillinger and an associate watched from his car. As soon as she did so, however, BOI agents jumped out and took her into custody.
Although Dillinger wanted to help, he couldn’t.
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53. He Ran Away
Watching Billie being taken by the FBI, Dillinger had to be talked down from rushing into the tavern to save her. Knowing that he likely wouldn't survive the confrontation, he drove away and chose to fight another day.
Dillinger took the whole thing surprisingly hard.
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54. He Couldn’t Get Over It
Dillinger and Billie had been together for less than half a year, but he still cared for her deeply. After authorities took her into custody, he was inconsolable and couldn’t move on from her loss.
This caused him to think even more recklessly.
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55. They Tried To Dissuade Him
Despite the several times authorities had caught him, Dillinger was very measured and strategic in his business. This changed when he lost Billie, and he became focused on attempting to rescue her, despite his associates insisting it was a bad idea.
Even though he never went through with it, it wasn’t long before they were in hot water again.
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56. They Received A Tip
On April 22, the BOI received another report concerning the Dillinger Gang’s whereabouts. The information revealed that the gang had taken refuge at Little Bohemia—a vacation lodge in Wisconsin—and agents went to apprehend them.
However, the Dillinger Gang defended themselves as always.
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57. They Fought Back
Having foreseen the BOI’s arrival, the Dillinger Gang were ready to fend them off. As the agents searched the area for Dillinger and his associates, the gang began firing from the upper levels of the lodge.
In the chaos, Dillinger called on one of his best skills.
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58. He Fled
The BOI agents waited to enter the building till the morning, once the firefight had stopped. By that time, though, the Dillinger Gang had escaped out a window at the back, leaving behind the hostages they had taken.
What followed was Dillinger’s most successful attempt at going into hiding.
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59. He Found Anonymity
Dillinger returned to Chicago and was surprised to learn how easy it was to blend in with the rest of the citizens. Taking the name Jimmy Lawrence, he took a job as a clerk and successfully threw the authorities off his trail.
While this worked for a while, the whole government continued to hunt for him.
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60. They Still Caught On
In an unlucky coincidence, the BOI had set up headquarters in Chicago to search for Dillinger. Initially, they had no leads on the outlaw, until they found Dillinger’s abandoned getaway car in the city, narrowing their search.
Knowing that he still wasn’t totally safe, he looked for more drastic measures.
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61. He Wanted To Look Different
For a couple of months, the idea of plastic surgery had interested Dillinger, so he enlisted the help of the disgraced Dr. Wilhelm Loeser. With the doctor, Dillinger underwent several operations to change his face and erase his fingerprints. But not only was the Great Depression-era surgery as gruesome as it sounds—it didn't even work.
While he wasn’t happy with the results, but at least it didn't stop him from finding a new lady.
American Stock Archive, Getty Images
62. He Met Someone New
In June, while at the Barrel of Fun nightclub, Dillinger met a waitress named Rita Hamilton—also called Polly. The two hit it off and soon began a relationship, due in no small part to her looking astonishingly like Billie Frechette.
Dillinger should have been more careful of her friends, however.
63. She Made A Deal
Polly had worked at a bordello with a woman named Ana Cumpănaș, and the two were still good friends. Cumpănaș, however, was being threatened with deportation at the time and offered the Bureau her help catching Dillinger in exchange for their assistance with her legal issues.
As per their agreement, Anna figured out how to set him up.
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64. She Set A Trap
Beyond offering information about Dillinger, Ana told the BOI that she would be attending a movie with the outlaw and Polly the following day. The Bureau took their chance to get Dillinger, and Ana even offered to wear an orange dress so they could identify her.
While this set-up was in Chicago, there weren’t only local law enforcement officers involved.
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65. They Were Mistrusting
The Bureau mobilized to set their trap, choosing not to rely on the local authorities. At the time, Chicago law enforcement had a poor reputation for being untrustworthy, so most of the manpower assembled consisted of agents and officers from other cities.
With a plan in place, they took their positions.
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66. They Surrounded The Building
The army of law enforcement arrived at the scene on July 22, surrounding the Biograph Theater and lying in wait. In the evening, their information proved accurate, and they watched as Ana, Polly, and Dillinger entered the building.
The agents tried to be discreet until the right moment—but as usual, Dillinger was too clever.
Associated Press, Wikimedia Commons
67. He Caught On
Once the movie ended and Dillinger’s party exited, the outlaw walked past Agent Melvin Purvis standing at the entrance. Dillinger looked at him and felt something was off before separating from his companions and—failing to remove his pistol—running to a back alley.
However, there is an alternative version of events.
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68. They May Have Tried For Peace
According to several accounts, the events may have been slightly different concerning the authorities’ attempts to handle things peacefully. Some reports say that the agents told Dillinger to surrender into custody before he ignored the order and ran.
Whatever the case, the agents bore down on Dillinger.
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69. They Chased Him
Dillinger fled down a back alley, hoping to pull off one more daring escape. This time, however, the authorities were ready. They had blocked the alley off, and the three agents who followed him opened fire, hitting Dillinger three times and bringing his life to an end.
Despite this being witnessed by many, some people believe a different story.
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70. His End May Have Been Different
Over the years, John Dillinger’s demise has been the subject of analysis, with a few people suggesting that he didn’t perish in that alley. In this version of events, it was a different man who the officers shot, and the Dillinger Gang effectively tricked the Bureau.
If he did escape, then he did a very good job laying low, because that was the last anyone ever saw of John Dillinger.
